Danvers review committee urges smaller town meeting, mandatory nomination papers for incumbents

Sally Calhoun, chair of the Town Meeting/Town Manager Act Review Committee, presented the committee’s written report to the Finance Committee, laying out proposed redlines to the Town Meeting Act aimed at increasing active participation and clarifying longstanding language. The committee was established by a vote at the annual town meeting on May 20, 2024 (warrant article 7) and met 19 times between July 2024 and May 2025 to produce the report dated 05/13/2025.

Calhoun said the committee’s most substantive Town Meeting Act proposal is to reduce the number of town meeting members from 18 to 15 per precinct. “We recommend revitalizing and reemphasizing that concept,” she told the Finance Committee, noting that in the May 2025 election six of eight precincts did not have enough candidates to fill all available seats. The change would produce 120 elected town meeting members plus five at-large select board members for 125 voting members, the report says.

The committee also proposes that all town meeting candidates — including incumbents — be required to pull nomination papers and secure at least 10 signatures. Calhoun framed the measure as a modest step to “revitalize the process” and prompt incumbents to re-engage with precinct residents. Several Finance Committee members expressed concern that the two ideas could pull in opposite directions: reducing seats could make elections less accessible even as the signature requirement raises the bar for incumbents.

Other recommendations aim to strengthen orientation and outreach. The committee recommends inserting language to formalize the town moderator’s informational session for new town meeting members (with the session made available via DCAT or streaming), updating the Town Meeting Handbook, and holding an annual precinct forum at Danvers High School so residents can meet their precinct representatives and ask questions in February each year.

Calhoun acknowledged potential legal questions about whether the proposed change in membership counts runs afoul of state law, citing Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 43A §4 raised earlier by town council, and said the committee expects town council to advise on statutory constraints before any final action. The committee’s report also recommends scheduling a mandatory review of the Town Meeting Act at least once every 20 years (or sooner if Town Meeting so votes).

The Finance Committee treated the session as informational and did not take votes. Committee members said they will seek a town council opinion on statutory interpretation and expect to see warrant articles drafted by the select board in the coming weeks ahead of public hearings and town meeting.